Meet the Career Innovation Faculty Fellows

What inspires you to integrate career development into your course curriculum?

As a professor, I am the alternative career – 6 of 7 life science PhDs are not faculty at R1 universities but much of current graduate student training does not reflect this reality. PhD programs need to better educate and prepare students for diverse career paths.

Research is the core of graduate training but having students investigate career options earlier in their training gives them time to prepare for what comes after the thesis defense (or postdoc). My background and career include time in the biotech industry.

Having seen first-hand how different career skills and mindsets are needed, my goal is to share those experiences. Partnering with the CCE and helping students see their options offers a way to broaden their understanding of what comes after graduate school.

Ragini Maddipati is a member of the 2025-26 Career Innovation Faculty Fellows cohort. Students in her Public Health Seminar II course are simultaneously navigating the interview process in preparation for practicum in the upcoming summer semester. The career assignment she developed gives students the opportunity to investigate various potential career pathways in both non-profit and for-profit sectors and to construct a tailored cover letter draft articulating their leadership philosophy and approach to public health challenges, which they can use as a template going forward as they actively apply.

Heather McPherson is a member of the 2025-26 Career Innovation Faculty Fellows cohort. In her Literary Journalism course, she teaches her students to develop strong research skills, including preparing for and conducting interviews. Her career assignment asks students to leverage these skills to conduct an interview with someone of professional interest, producing a profile piece while simultaneously learning about a career path of interest and building a new professional relationship.

What inspires you to integrate career development into your course curriculum?

Art History doesn’t immediately come to mind as a practical, career-focused major. Many employers are seeking the skills in qualitative analysis, written and oral communication, and visual literacy that we build organically in our field. Art is intimately connected to political movements and reflects our deepest societal values.

My goal is to show students how Art History provides valuable skills for a variety of future careers. My “New Media” class emphasizes written and oral communication and teamwork, and builds familiarity with technologies for online engagement. This course gives students the chance to curate for themselves and explore how visual material translates social issues.

As a Senior Lecturer in Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, I have dedicated my career to developing successful young engineers. I am a Professional Engineer (Environmental, TN) and always encourage students to pursue professional licensure which is critical to success in certain engineering fields.

When students take classes with me, I frequently hear about their career searches. While students view college as a pathway to robust careers, many struggle knowing how and where to search for opportunities, how to engage with employers, and how to accept or negotiate offers. The wide variety of student interest and experience within an engineering field means we see students looking for internships, research opportunities, graduate schools, and full-time careers.

My goal is to work in partnership with the CCE to bring career development experience to engineering students directly within their courses. Students with early exposure to career development, internships, and research experience typically have a better chance of securing full-time positions by graduation. I want to see all of my students leaving WashU with careers, confidence, and skills they can be proud of.

Kristen’s Assignment

Students in Kristen’s Environmental Engineering Capstone course have historically participated in an environmental design contest where they interact with judges from sponsoring firms. Her assignment asks students to prepare for the event with structured peer resume reviews, research on company sponsors, and a plan for proactive engagement with other students and professionals at the event.